The highest 10 ladies’s basketball gamers within the SEC, ranked

For the previous three ladies’s school basketball seasons, the tip of every season featured a staff from the SEC holding up the nationwide championship trophy. Of these titles, two went to Daybreak Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks and one to LSU.

Now, within the 2024-25 season, the convention is as aggressive as its been with seven groups within the high 25 and faculties loaded with high athletes within the nation, all hoping to reflect South Carolina’s success.

Listed below are the highest 10 gamers within the convention, together with two transfers benefiting from new conditions, the graduate senior main the Gamecocks repeat championship run and extra:

10. Teonni Key | Kentucky

24-25 Stats: 11.5 factors, 9.7 rebounds, 2.9 blocks

When new Kentucky Wildcats head coach Kenny Brooks left the ACC for the Bluegrass State, it included bringing his Virginia Tech level guard Georgia Amoore, however she wasn’t the one ACC participant to affix him.

Ahead Teonni Key left the North Carolina Tar Heels and is flourishing with the Wildcats. The 6-foot-3 combo guard/ahead has velocity and midrange taking pictures to satisfy the wants of a guard and size and agility to play contained in the paint. Watch the ahead play across the basket and he or she’s affected person sufficient to let defenders chew and hit layups, averaging a profession excessive in factors and rebounds.

After beginning one recreation with the Tar Heels in two seasons, Brooks has an on a regular basis starter to play alongside Clara Strack within the paint and pull defenders away from the rim.

Defensively, Key leads the convention with 29 blocks, averaging 2.9 per recreation. It exhibits the junior’s timing on either side of the ball.

Photograph by Sean Rayford/Getty Pictures

9. Te-Hina Paopao | South Carolina

24-25 Stats: 11.6 factors, 2.6 assists, 50% subject objective proportion

After dropping Aaliyah Boston earlier than the 23-24 season, and Kamilla Cardoso following the 24-25 undefeated title run, the concern for the Gamecocks was the dearth of a foreboding inside participant.

South Carolina’s Chloe Kitts is working to fill that function, however the individual permitting everybody to search out their locations on the Gamecocks roster is graduate senior Te-Hina Paopao. The previous Oregon Duck transferred to Columbia earlier than final season, however this yr has established herself even additional as a staff chief.

Paopao’s offensive figures are down this yr, however one other decrease stat that speaks volumes concerning the guard is giving up a profession low 0.8 turnovers per recreation, giving South Carolina further possessions.

She additionally nonetheless exhibits the dynamic playmaking that she had within the Pacific Northwest, however does not must with teammates like Kitts and freshman Joyce Edwards on the courtroom. Paopao brings the staff calm and consistency it must proceed battling on the high of the SEC.

Photograph by Sarah Stier/Getty Pictures

8. Talaysia Cooper | Tennessee

24-25 Stats: 20.3 factors, 6.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists

Talaysia Cooper is a participant who couldn’t discover sufficient taking part in time at South Carolina her freshman yr, however discovered a house with the Tennessee Volunteers.

Cooper joined head coach Kim Caldwell’s high-powered offense within the offseason and is considered one of 5 gamers within the convention scoring no less than 20 factors per recreation. The sophomore delivers blistering strikes to the paint and goes via opponents to get baskets, but it surely’s not solely offense the place the guard’s impacting video games.

The South Carolina native leads Tennessee in rebounds and steals, holding onto the best plus/minus within the SEC general and each offensively and defensively.

Photograph by Ian Maule/Getty Pictures

7. Raegan Beers | Oklahoma

24-25 Stats: 17.7 factors, 9.5 assists, 72.5% subject objective proportion

Raegan Beers was a part of the exodus away from the few Pac-12 faculties that opted to remain within the convention. Many noticed Beers because the switch goal of the summer season and he or she landed with the Sooners of their first yr within the SEC.

The previous Oregon State star introduced along with her dimension and physicality within the paint, with correct and environment friendly taking pictures making her an almost computerized basket for Oklahoma. The Third Workforce AP All-American and two-time All-Pac-12 choice is performing higher with a stronger forged round her, averaging a profession excessive 17.7 factors regardless of taking pictures much less per recreation.

The ahead leads the NCAA with an astounding 72.5 p.c subject objective proportion, leaping up barely to 73.5 when solely accounting for photographs taken contained in the arc. With guard Payton Verhulst connecting with Beers and inflicting defenders to decide on between who they must double-team, Beers and the Sooners may very well be close to the highest of the SEC convention of their inaugural season.

Scott Wachter-Imagn Pictures

6. Rori Harmon | Texas

24-25 Stats: 9.5 factors, 6.5 assists, 2.7 steals

Texas guard Rori Harmon doesn’t have statistics that bounce off a stat sheet like some gamers on this record however has one other stage that others can’t declare.

The rationale for the drop is twofold. First, Harmon is getting back from an ACL tear that took the guard out final season after 11 video games. These accidents usually require practically a yr earlier than returning and Harmon is already on the market making an influence. The second cause is Harmon doesn’t must do all of the scoring for the Longhorns with a stronger supporting forged.

That stage is huge recreation moments. Harmon’s already proven it this yr when Texas traveled to South Bend, Indiana for the SEC-ACC Problem. Regardless of dropping to the Notre Dame Preventing Irish, it took extra time and Harmon taking the sport over within the last minute.

After hitting a midrange jumper to drag forward, and the Irish answering again with what seemed just like the game-winning shot, Harmon earned a foul with mere seconds remaining, hitting the free throws to ship it to extra time.

Mix Harmon with Madison Booker (extra on her later) and it’s no shock that Texas was voted second within the convention within the SEC preseason ballot.

Clare Grant/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK through Imagn Pictures

5. Georgia Amoore | Kentucky

24-25 Stats: 15.6 factors, 7.2 assists, 2.3 rebounds

At Virginia Tech, level guard Georgia Amoore was a part of a longtime staff, and a partnership with ahead Elizabeth Kitley, that took the Hokies all the way in which to the 2023 Ultimate 4. Amoore was the primary Hokie to get a triple-double and holds the varsity report for assists, organising a legacy that VT followers gained’t neglect. However what Amoore is doing in Kentucky could be extra spectacular.

Transferring to the SEC quickly after Brooks took the pinnacle teaching place, Amoore is now not within the comfy confines of a program constructed over years of Brooks management. Now Amoore is in the beginning of build up a staff, with all new gamers round her.

Even so, Amoore leads the SEC with 7.2 assists per recreation, and tied with Harmon with 72 general. These passes are going to all new teammates, with three of her 4 beginning teammates transferring into Kentucky alongside Amoore.

Amoore performs the sector normal level guard function and referred to as Brooks’ “mini me” by the coach himself. When it’s wanted she additionally activates taking pictures skill that frustrates opponents along with her tenacity and hitting consecutive photographs to drag the air out of opponent’s defensive effort.

Stephen Lew-Imagn Pictures

4. Aneesah Morrow | LSU

24-25 Stats: 17.8 factors, 13.7 rebounds, 2.7 steals

Just like the Gamecocks, LSU misplaced a giant within the paint that’s laborious to exchange in now-WNBA star Angel Reese. With Reese gone, Morrow is again to what the ahead was doing with DePaul that made her a two-time AP-All American.

Morrow has 10 double-doubles in 12 video games this yr for the Tigers. Now, there’s an argument to be made concerning the energy of LSU’s schedule, however within the lone ranked recreation of the season for head coach Kim Mulkey’s facet, in opposition to then No. 20 NC State, Morrow 20 factors and 15 rebounds, considered one of her high video games of the season.

Taking part in at DePaul made the Chicago, IL native barely out of the nationwide highlight however has the sport to shine in it this season as the first paint goal for LSU. Morrow is powerful within the paint, takes contact however may step again and hit midrange photographs with frequency and now has extra to take with Reese away.

In 12 video games, Morrow has a profession excessive 51.9 p.c taking pictures proportion from the ground, and is scoring extra this season than final. The ahead’s partnered properly with the subsequent participant on the record.

Photograph by Reagan Cotten/LSU/College Pictures through Getty Pictures

3. Flau’jae Johnson | LSU

24-25 Stats: 21.1 factors, 5.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists

Junior guard Flau’jae Johnson’s benefited probably the most from the additional photographs wanted for LSU. Johnson averages 6.2 extra factors per recreation this season than final yr, however what Johnson offers is greater than offense or protection.

Johnson is the chief of the Tigers on the courtroom. Look no additional than their extra time win over the Stanford Cardinal. Regardless of fouling out within the further interval, Johnson was up on the bench, motivating her teammates, giving suggestions and serving to shut the sport out regardless of not stepping on the courtroom.

Alongside Morrow, the tandem are the most effective duos within the nation. Regardless of dropping Reese, Johnson’s 3.1 assists is a profession excessive, discovering the likes of Morrow and sophomore Mikaylah Williams.

LSU has wins over the aforementioned NC State Wolfpack but additionally victories over energy convention faculties just like the Washington Huskies and Stanford Cardinal. How Johnson leads the staff via SEC play is a narrative to look at because the stakes get greater.

Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

2. Khamil Pierre | Vanderbilt

24-25 Stats: 22.9 factors, 11.8 rebounds, 4.0 steals

Coming in at No. 2 is arguably the shock participant of the yr, no matter convention. Khamil Pierre and the Vanderbilt Commodores sit outdoors of the highest 25, with a lone loss coming in opposition to undefeated Michigan State of the Large Ten, however they’re near grabbing nationwide consideration.

That’s thanks partially to Pierre.

In 12 video games this season, the sophomore who made the SEC All-Freshman staff scoring 8.9 factors per recreation jumped that up 12 factors per recreation regardless of solely taking part in eight extra minutes per recreation.

Pierre is a 6-foot-2 ahead who performs like a guard. The sophomore patrols the courtroom and grabs steals on the highest clip within the convention (4.0 per recreation). Towards Evansville, Pierre scored a program-high 42 factors and had eight steals. Pierre did near the identical factor in opposition to the Arizona Wildcats of the Large 12 with 25 factors and 7 steals.

The ahead additionally does what’s anticipated of a ahead — rebounding. Pierre is considered one of solely two gamers within the convention averaging a double-double.

Vanderbilt is off to a 10-1 begin to the season as a result of play from Pierre, who has two SEC Participant of the Week awards to her identify after six weeks.

Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK through Imagn Pictures

1. Madison Booker | Texas

24-25 Stats: 17.9 factors, 6.2 rebounds, 54.0% subject objective proportion

If the WNBA allowed gamers to depart school earlier, Texas ahead Madison Booker could be able to go, and a high lottery decide.

Since Harmon went out final season, Booker’s stepped as much as be a catalyst for the Longhorns. Booker performs like knowledgeable ahead and barely can a staff cease the AP All-American. Booker elevated her scoring this season by virtually two factors per recreation and is grabbing extra rebounds.

The one dip in Booker’s recreation is a considerable drop in assists however that’s primarily as a result of Harmon’s return from harm. What Booker’s misplaced in facilitating, she’s made up for with deep taking pictures. Making an not possible to defend ahead much more troublesome to tackle is Booker’s elevated effectivity from deep, hitting 54.5 p.c of her probabilities past the arc, taking 2.2 photographs per recreation.

Booker isn’t going to guide the SEC in scoring or rebounding, however her skill to excel in a number of aspects of the sport makes her probably the most harmful participant within the convention. There’s a cause Booker is the primary freshman to win Large 12 Participant of the 12 months. Might Booker win one other POY within the SEC?